Safety hair-cutter.



.L W. WILLIAMSON.

SAFETY HAIR GUTTER.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 2o, 1912.

1,074,678. Patented oct. 7, 1913.

j UNITED "STATES NPATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. WILLIAMSON, 4or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY HAIR-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patente-doet. 7,1913.

Application led November 20, 1912. Serial N o. 732,516.

`Be itknow'n that I, JOHN W; W'ILLIAM- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of New York, borough `of-Brooklyn, county ofKin-gs, and State of New York,"have invent-ed a certain new and usefulImprovement in Safety Hair-Cutters, of which the following isa full,clear, and exact specication.` v

This invention relates more particularly to a class of devicesadapted-to enablea person to cut his ownhair.

My invention hasfor its object primarily to provide aSaetyharcutter, ordevice designed to be utilized `personsfor cutting their own hair andespecially those having stiff kinky hair, and Which is of a form thatwill allow the device to be also employed as arazor whereby the person`may shave him` self without any danger of cutting the skin. ThisV isaccomplished; mainly by providing a comb which serves as a guard, andemploying 1n conjunction `therewith a razor blade adapted to be adjustedin a manner so as to permit the device to be conveniently manipulatedfor cutting the hairin a suitable style, or if desired the razor blademay be swung to a position relatively tothe comb and used for shaving.`

Other objects of the invention are to pro? vide means adaptedto enablethe comb and blade to be accurately guided while the hair is beingtrimmed; tO provide a form of holder which will permit a razor blade'when dulled to be replaced by another blade; and to provide asafetyhair cutter wherein the various parts thereof may be detachablyconnected together.

With these and other Objectsin view, the

invention will be hereinafter more particularly .described withreference tothe accompanying drawing, which for-ms apart of `thisspecification, and will then, be pointed out inl the claims at the endof the description: y

In thedrawing, Figure 1 is aside elevation of One formiv `of safety haircritter embodying my invention. Fig. `2 is a side "elevation of a formof holder and blade used in the device. Fig. 3 is a side elevation `ofaform of, guard employed in the device. Fig.

' 4 is a view, partly in section,`of one end of the comb used f in thedevice.

F-ig. 5 is a view through the comb adjacent tO one end thereof showingpart of the guide used in conjunction with the device, andwhic-hsectionally illustra-tes the cutting blade and holder thereofapplied to the comb. Fig. 6` 1s a section through-the holder, thecutting blade, and the guard shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side elevationof a small guard employedupon one end ofthe comb.V Fig. Sis asideelevation, partlyfra-gmentary, ofthe comb and blade when used forshaving, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view. of the guide used inconjunction with the device.

The safetyv hair cutter, or device has a combv 10 which may be of anysuitable shape, or size, and said comb may be provided with eithercoarse, or fine teeth 11 as preferred. Upon one surface of the comb 410,and at each enfdythereof are a number of spaced compressible teats, orbuttons, as 12 and 18, each of which may be of the well known make havin.i a. hollow body of spring metal with a num er of spacedslots thereinso as to yieldingly permit a blade holder, as 14,

`to be removably fastened to the comb 10. `The blade holder 14 has anelongated body 15 which is preferably formed by `bending a sheet ofspring metal, or other like aterial lengthwise into approximately theshape of an 'inverted U, as viewed in cross-sectlon, wherebytwo spacedarms are provided, and oneof the arms of said body `is somewhat longer`than the other arm.

The free edges of the arms of the body 15 are curved inwardly toward`each other, as at 16 and 17, `and upon the ends of the short arm. areextensions 18 and 19 through each ofwhich is an opening 20 and 21. Theopenings 20 andv21 are of diameters to permit each to receivetherethrough one of the buttons 1:2 and 13 by the use of slight pressureso as to fasten the holder to the comb, and to permit the holder to belikewise disconnected therefrom. Between the arms of the holder 14 isinserted a blade 22 adapted to be employed for'cutting the hair and for:shaving,

las `will be hereinafter more fully described.' f

'The blade 22 is preferably of the same length as the body 15' of theholder 14, and may be of anysuitable width. Both of Vthe longitudinaledges of the blade 22 is sharpened to a knife edge, and substan-`tially'rnidway of said blade is a longitudinally disposed ridge 23 whichisformed by depressing one surface .of the blade whereby a groove, as24, is provided. In order to hold the blade 22 against accidentaldisplacement when applied to the holder 14 the blade is inserted thereinso that the curved edge 17 of the sl1ort arm of the body 15 thereof willbe disposed in the groove 24 and the curved edge 1G of the other arm ofthe body7 will overlap and engage the ridge 23, as shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawing.

When th'e device is used for cutting the hair of the head of a person,the holder 14 with the blade 22 mounted the-rein is applied upon thecomb by positioning the holder so that one of the buttons l2 and l2 ateach end of the comb will be guided through the openings 20 and 21 ofthe extensions 18 and 19. of said holder, as indicated in Fig. l. Byguiding the comb 10 and the blade 22 over the head of a person somewhatafter the fashion of using an ordinary comb the hair will be trimmed therequired length, and the comb 10 will serve as a guard to prevent theblade from cutting the scalp.

In order to permit parts of thehair to be trimmed especially inproximity to the ears of a person, upon the surfaceof the comb 10 towhich the blade holder 14 is applied and at one end thereof is a smallguard, as 25, having a plurality of teeth 26 in one of its edges, andupon this guard is a small second blade 27 of the same width as theguard. Both the guard 25 and blade 27 are rigidly secured to the comb bya screw, or the like which is passed through registered openings in theblade, the guard, and the comb.

For the purpose of permitting the comb 10 and the blade 22 to beaccurately directed when in use, upon the surface of each end of thecomb which is opposite to the holder 14 and blade 22 are two spacedcompressible buttons 28 and 29 which are of a similar format-ion to thebuttons 12 and 13, and said buttons 28 and 29 serve to allow a guide, as30 Fig. 9, to be removably applied to the comb 10. The guide 30 has twospaced walls 31 and 32 which are spaced apart a distance approximatelythe length of the comb 10. The walls 3l and 32 are substantiallytriangular in shape, and said walls are connected by a transverse strip33. Projecting in opposite directions from the vertical straight edgesof the walls 31 and 32 are flanges 34 and 35 through each of which maybe one, or more holes 36 and 36a. The holes 36 and 36a are of diameterswhereby the buttons28 and 29 may be passed therethrough by the exertionof slight pressure upon said ianges. When the comb, the holder with itsblade, and the guide 30 thus attached together are guided over the hairthe transverse strip 33 will Contact with the head, and the comb andblade will be disposed upon a suitable incline for trimming the hairconveniently and evenly.

When the device is employed for shaving the'holder 14 and blade 22 areremoved from the comb 10, and one end of the holder is l2 or 13 at oneend of the comb, as shown in Fig. S. The holder `14 and .blade` 22 maythen be swung to a suitable angle relatively to the comb l0 which willserve' as a handle instead of as a guard.V At spaced intervals upon onesurface of the holder 14 are two tcats, or buttons 37 and 38 which arealso formed similarly to the buttons l2 and 13 so as to be compressible.Adapted to be Vremovably applied upon the holder 14 is an elongatedguard 39,-Figs. 3, G, S, having two spaced holes 40 and 41 of diameterswhereby the buttons 37 and 33 maybe disposed therethrough by the use ofslight pressure. The guard 39is preferablyof. the usual form havingspaced teeth 42 upon one of its edges, and the free endsof said teethare y slightly curved, at.42, so as to bey disposed whereby the teethwill Contact with the skin in advance of the contact of the bladetherewith when said guard 39 is applied to the holder and to thebladefor shaving a person.

In the foregoing description, I have embodied the preferred form of myinvention, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfthereto, asI am aware that modifications may be made therein Withoutdeparting from the principle, or sacrificing any o therefore I reservetomyselfihe right to make such changesas fairly fall within the scopethereof. y y, i y y Having thus described my invention, I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent I y y 1. In a safety hair cutter,a comb, a plurality of spaced compressible buttons provided upon onesurface at each end of the comb, an elongated holder of substantially`the shape of an inverted U in cross section,

Vthe free lengthwise edges of the arms of the holder being curved anddisposed toward each other, two extensions, one provided upon each endof the holder and each of said extensions having. a hole therethroughforreception of one of the compressible buttons at each end of thecombwherebythe holder may be removably held thereto so that the combwill serve as a guard when the cutter is in use, and an elongated bladehaving a groove lengthwise thereof, said blade being removably insertedbetween the arms of the holder whereby the curved edge of one of thearms willy be disposed in the groove of said blade. Y

2. In a safety hair cutter, a comb, an elongated holder of substantiallythe shape of an inverted U in cross section, the free lengthwise edgesof the arms of the holdervk being curved `and disposed towardeach other,two extensions, one kprovided upon each end of the holder and each ofsaid ex,

tensions having a hole therethrough, means provided at each end of thecomb and adapt- Y the advantages of this invention,

use, an elongated blade removably inserted"` removably of the comb, said`guide b eing each other,

' g for reception of that the `comb l.will serve as a sions of theholder whereby the holder-may be removably held-thereto so that theYcomb will serve as a guard when the cutter is in between the arms of theholder, and a guide held upon 1 the opposite surface adapted to contactwithfthe "head for, ldisposing the comb and the blade at a `suitableangle. forcutting the hair. 1

3. In av safety hair cutter`,'a comb, aplu "rality of spacedcompressible :buttons pro-- vided upon'l one surface. at each end offthel lbeing `removably inserted 'between the arms of `the holderwhereby `.the-curved edge of one of thearms will be disposed in thegroove of said blade, .a guide, and ymeans servlngto detaohably hold theguide to the 'opposite surface of the comb, said guide elongated holderof aninverted U being adapted'to contactlwiththe head for disposing thecomb and the blade at a suitable `angle for cutting the hair;

.4. In a safety of substantially the,shape in cross section, the freelengthwise edges eing curved and disposed toward veach l. other,

V'groove lengthwise thereof, said blade Vremovably inserted between thearms of the comb, an elongated Vholder rality of provided hair cutter',a comb, anl

4 `Witnessesz of the arms of the'holder means adapted to removably holdthe hold the comb will serve as a guard when the cut# ter is in use, anelongated blade having 'a being holder whereby the curved edge of one ofthe arms will be disposed in the oove of said blade, `and a guide removaly held `upon the opposite surface of the comb, said with the the bladegulde being adapted to contact head for .disposing the comb and at asuitable angle for'cutting the hair.

5. In a safety hair cutter, a comb, a plurality of spaced compressiblebuttons provided upon one 'surface at each end of the of substantiallyin cross section, one provided upon each end and each of said extensionstherethrough for reception of the `shape of an inverted U twoextensions, of the holder having .-a hole one of the compressiblebuttons at each end of the comb whereby the holder may be held thereto,an` elongated bladel removably inserted between the arms of the holderwhereby the curved edge of one of the arms will be disposed in thegroove of said blade, a pluspaced alined compressible buttons upon theopposite surface of the comb, 'and a gulde having a plurality of spacedholes throughl each of which one of the latter said buttons of saidholder is passed so that the guide may be removably held thereto.

- This specification signed 'and witnessed this nineteenth day of ovember, A. D. 1912. JOHN W. WILLIAMSON Rofr. B. ABBOTT, 4 v M.ADeRMonr.`

er upon one surface of the comb so that

